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The Week #274
by James- 🇯🇵 I made it back to Japan after a week in the UK. This time I managed to time my trip to the airport perfectly because as soon as I arrived they started bag checks for ANA. Then there was zero line in security. Compared with my prior visit with the fam, where it took an hour to check-in and we had to dash to the airplane, it was a welcome change.
- 🛰️ While in London I bought the Lunar Outpost Lego Technic to build with Leo and it's great. It's the most complex build we've started doing thus far. I wish we could drive it. ( I've since discovered the Lego Spike sets, which replaces Mindstorms, and can be programmed using (!)...maybe one for Santa...)
- 🥳 I arrived back in Japan just in time to to spend my 40th birthday with the fam. For the day itself, we kept it simple, having a pizza and cake at my in-laws. Turning 40 is a good time to do a "mid-life" checkin and review things. What will the "theme" for my next decade be? What should I start doing? What should I stop or change? How can I create the systems that ensure change/growth is lasting? My gut (metaphorical and actual (😅)) tells me it should be health... but they're all questions I need to start pondering on...when I'm no longer jet lagged.
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by JamesJet Lagged Birthday 5k
Starting off a new decade on the right foot.5.0km
39.7min
30.4m climbed
167avg bpm
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The Week #273
by James- 🇬🇧 I'm back in the UK, this time for a week for work. It's the first time I've made any trip back-to-back so close to another and it's a bit odd – wasn't I just here?! The weather is fantastic as per usual (not being cheeky).
- ✈️ I rode with ANA this time around and the flight was the best kind, uneventful. Although rather than my usual aisle seat, I had in a window seat. While I enjoyed being able to look out the window when we were taking off / landing, not being able to get up when I want was a bummer. The entire flight I got up 1 time, which can't be good.
While the plane ride was smooth sailing the trains were classic UK trains. Midway to Paddington on the Elizebeth line, we're about to depart the station and the train lost overhead power. We were stuck for 30 minutes while they sorted it out. Thankfully it has a battery on it so it was able to keep the lights on and open the doors. - 🗿 I finally did a proper visit to the British museum and it was fantastic. I'm not sure what my favorite relic in the museum was, but I did quite enjoy the Japan exhibit. Maybe it was because I live there and I could relate to it more. You get so used to these things just being around (on TV, books etc..) that it sort of becomes like the air, but seeing an explicit collection after seeing collections from other parts of the world/eras, if gives you a greater appreciation for the culture.
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Checkin to BrewDog Soho
Hefeweizen 😋 -
Checkin to Tate Modern
Recharging with some art. -
Checkin to British Museum
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Checkin to GAIL's Bakery
Sultana scone with strawberry jam and clotted cream with a flat white. 😋 -
Checkin to ANA LOUNGE
Brief trip to London. brb. -
The Week #272
by James- ☀️ While the intensity of the heat has decreased this past week, it's still above 30 during the day and staying in the mid 20's. That seems like it will change next week but for now it's still "fierce heat".
- 👴 Respect for the Aged day was this week. I'm mixed on this day (despite enjoying the 3-day weekend and it applying to me more and more each year). Why am I mixed? Children have a day (makes sense), the olds have a day (🧐) –where's the "respect for the middle aged for simultaneously keeping society running and raising the next generation" day? Maybe respect for the aged day is about respecting them for surviving? If that's the case...perhaps I am less mixed. than I was initially.
👆 It occurs to me that I am closing in on the final weeks of my 3rd decade. I should set some time aside to reflect on the past 10 years. Appreciate the changes and make some plans for the next. - 🎶 I've been listening to No Question by M-Flo on not quite repeat, but close enough. Sooo good.
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The Week #271
by James- 🦷 Leo's front teeth have been loose for a while and this week they decided it was time. I need to get lots of photos of him while he's in this toothless state.
- 🏊♂️ We went swimming at the YMCA. It's been about a year or more since we went swimming together and I am impressed with his ability. He could do backstroke the crawl from the middle of the pool. I think he might be part fish.
- 🙇♂️ The prime minister of Japan has announced that he's resigning (🎁 nytimes). I feel like there's been about 4 pms in the last 5 years. I feel like the constant churn of leadership makes it difficult for a country to build rapport amongst the top, though perhaps that's what the bureaucracies are for.
- 🏡 I am continuing to look around and exploring different potential futures. Most of them excite me, except the potential of commuting across Yokohama everyday. Not even across Yokohama, but more of a V into the center and back out is the pain.
The thing is, as much as I moan about our location, our house is comfortable enough. Moving to a smaller place in an area we're not familiar with is a bit daunting. We'd probably have people on all sides of us again. Moving into a smaller place automatically means going through the things we have and deciding what to get rid of (which is a good thing, imo). But actually getting rid of stuff, arranging movers, selling the house. So much administrative work.
It's a bit like betting the farm on something you're not 100% sure is going to work out. However, when you consider the alternatives (no change, commuting both ways once or twice a day (depending on pattern)), it's the only thing that makes sense. I'm sure we'll know the right move when the time is right.
